Gretchen Blais, a San Francisco Bay Area artist…

My artwork began one rainy Thanksgiving Day 35 years ago when my family and I were visiting out of town. My host suggested we all paint since it was too wet to be outside. It was a memorable event for four adults and six young children.

I came away with an experience hard to describe. I felt that something was released, never to become invisible again. I began to doodle more. With encouragement I took a few art classes and I began to carry my sketchbook with me like an extension of my arm and hand. I played with pencil, with line, with shape and patterns, which kept changing and moving.

There is something about drawing that takes me to another space. I am always fascinated to see a drawing appear, to watch it grow, to see the image on the paper take form. As I review my work of 35 years, I see the drawn forms reappear with new visual and emotional meanings. The pencil line that made a leaf may return as a feather, an eyelash or nothing definite at all. However, they are old friends to me, and they make up a visual language for my experiences. In 2005 I joined the Woman’s Caucus for Art and with the support of the members, I have been able to claim the title of Artist. I am now focusing energy to get my art out into the world.

I have had my work on display in Oakland at Ultimate Grounds Coffee Shop and at We the People auditorium during a showcase of Oakland artists. In addition I have participated in the following shows through the Northern California Woman’s Caucus for Art: SOMA Cultural Center in San Francisco (2005), Joseph Prescott Center, (2006), Third Waves for Feminist Art in California and Florida (2006), Ohlone College Art Center (2007) and the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Art in San Francisco (2008). The show with the Mission Cultural Center was a juried show and three of my pieces were accepted and all three pieces sold. One piece was used as the promotion for the show.